I have a drawer full of paperwork, and the one with the eating do's and don'ts is not jumping out at me.

I think the instructions were no Water 30 mins prior to a meal, or 45 minutes after. Why no water before a meal? Doesn't it just gurgle right past the band?

Also Soup. When I read about people ordering soup in restaurants, especially, it makes me wonder what the difference is. It seemed to me a good solution to be able to just order soup to eat slowly while the family chows down. No good?

you want the solid food that you do eat to stay in the pouch as long as possible so you arent hungry. If you drink water during the meal or shortly afterwards it pushes everything through the pouch.

I wouldn't mind my pouch not filling up right away in a restaurant situation, assuming I am making a healthy choice.

My doctor told me I could drink right up until I ate and then not for 30 mins after. A few weeks before surgery i started to do that. At first it felt wierd but I got use to it. Not only will it help push food through right away causing you to overeat because you won't get full but it could make the food mushy and sludge like making it hard to go through and possibly lead to vomitting.

I did ask about soup because I love it! My nuturionist said it was ok once in a while but to try to pick one with a lot of good vegis and meat that would help "bulk" it up.

good luck to you!

My surgeon told me the same as luv2eats surgeon...I can drink till I eat then wait 30 minutes to drink anything after I eat.

Luv2eat I think practicing not eating and drinking together is brilliant!!! This was the hardest thing for me to get used to!

So soup doesn't count as eating and drinking at the same time? I have read posts from people saying if they drink water while they eat they have troubles.

I'm sure that I will learn all this stuff later once it gets closer to having the surgery but dang! I'm gonna need to practice some stuff ... I love drinking and eating at the same time! It helps wash it all down LOL

i dont normally drink when i eat anyway so that part of the program doesn't bother me i do drink b4 i eat and that will have to stop...

Hello all,

I am 5 weeks out, and this past week was the first week on solids.

Not drinking and eating was a tough rule to get used to. I was told I can drink right up until the meal but not for an hour afterward.

My patient facilitator gave me a GREAT strategy, that works!!!! I drink a bottle of Water on the way to the restaurant, and then order water before my meal comes. By the time I start eating, I am well hydrated and don't feel thirsty through most of my meal. By the time the hour is up, I am not thirsty at all.

The reason people drink so much at mealtime is that they don't drink enough during the day. So, make sure you stay hydrated! It will make things go much easier :party:

Just wanted to share what works for me!!